Llansadwrn War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
William Barratt, Private, 288052, Welsh Regiment. William was the Husband of Catherine Kate Payne (formerly Barratt), of 6, Abernant Rd., Cwmgorse, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen. The CWGC shows that he was a native of Birmingham but Soldiers Died shows that he was born & resided in Llansadwrn. The Memorial shows that he lived at Plasnewydd. William enlisted at Llandovery into the 1/6th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which landed at Havre on the 29th October, 1914. On the 5th July 1915 they transferred to the 84th Brigade, 28th Division, and on the 23rd October 1915 transferred again to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. On the 15th May 1916 the Battalion became Pioneers to the 1st Division. William was wounded during the Second Battle of Passchendaele and Died of Wounds at the Casualty Clearing Station at Dozinghem on the 11th November, 1917. He is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery.
David Thomas Henry Bendle, Private, 18380, Welsh Regiment. David was born at Llansadwrn, the Son of James and Eleanor Bendle, who moved the family to Dilkasha, Blackpill, Swansea. David enlisted at Ammanford into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which landed in France on the 13th August, 1914 as part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. The Division fought at the Battle of Mons, and then during the epic retreat to the Marne, where they helped stop the German Advance before pushing them back to the Aisne. They were then rushed to Ypres, and took part in First Ypres, where the German advance across Flanders was stopped, although at great cost. After a hard first winter in Flanders, the Division fought at the Battle of Aubers in May, 1915 then moved to Loos, and took part in the Battle of Loos throughout September and October that year. In 1916 they fought during the entire Battle of the Somme, and followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in March, 1917. In the Summer of 1917 the entire Division moved to the Flanders coast in preparation for an offensive there, but after the Battles of Third Ypres had got bogged down in the Flanders mud, they were needed at Ypres. At Ypres, they fought at the Second Battle of Passchendaele, and when the Battle was called off, remained in Flanders over through another dreadful winter. On the 21st March, 1918 the German Spring Offensive was launched against the British Armies on the Somme. The ferociousness of their attack created mayhem in the British ranks, and the Germans swiftly pushed across France, leaving thousands of British soldiers dead in their wake. The 1st Division were still in Flanders, when on the 9th April the German Offensive switched to Flanders, and the Division were caught in the Battle of Estaires, but the onslaught was too much, and so the British pulled back, fighting at the Battles of Hazebrouck and of Bethune. David was Killed in Action in Flanders on the 23rd July, 1918 aged 21, and is buried at Cambrin Military Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Benjamin Trevor Davies, Gunner, 123915, Royal Garrison Artillery. Benjamin was the son of Daniel and Esther Davies, of Pantyrhendre, Llansadwrn. He enlisted at Llandovery into the Royal Garrison Artillery, serving in their 304th Siege Battery, part of the XCV Heavy Artillery Group. Benjamin fought in the Mesopotamian theatre, where he was wounded, and he sadly Died of Meningitis following Wounds on the 5th March, 1918 aged only 21. He is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery.
John Davies, Private, 52974, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of Roderick and Mary Davies, of Pantygawmil, Llansadwrn. He enlisted at Llandovery into the 3rd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which was a Home Service unit. John Died at Rhyl of sickness on the 21st February, 1917 aged 28, and is buried at Llansadwrn Churchyard.
Philip W. Davies, Private, Coldstream Guards. Philip is remembered on the Llansadwrn War Memorial as he was Killed in Action in South Africa in 1899, during the Second Boer War, at Kimberley. He is commemorated on the Kimberley 1899-1902 Boer War Memorial, and is buried in Kimberley West End Cemetery. Philip was probably killed at the Battle of the Orange River.
William Durance, Private, 26127, East Surrey Regiment. William was the Son of Mrs. Valey Durance, of 2, Arundel Place, Arundel Square, Barnsbury, London. He worked at Abermarlais Park, and enlisted at Whitehall into the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. The Battalion had landed at Havre on the 15th August, 1914 attached to the 14th Brigade, 5th Division. They fought at the Battle of Mons, and during the retreat south, fighting at Le Cateau, then down to the Marne where the German attack was halted. They took part in the push back to the Aisne, before moving to Flanders, where they fought at the Battle of La Bassee, then at Messinesin October, 1914. They fought here through First Ypres, and took part in the capture of Hill 60, and then fought at Second Ypres in April 1915. March 1916 saw the Division moving to positions between St. Laurent-Blangy and Vimy, near Arras, and the Division saw plenty of action during it’s spell here. On the 1st July, 1916 the Battle of the Somme opened, and the Division moved south fighting at High Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy. On the 5th October, after suffering heavy casualties, the Division moved to Festubert, where they remained until March, 1917. They next saw action at the Battle of Arras, fighting at the Battle of Vimy in April 1917, and the attack on La Coulette. On the 3rd May they fought in the Third Battle of the Scarpe, and captured Oppy Wood. On the 7th September, they were pulled out of the line again, and moved north to join the great offensive in Flanders- Third Ypres, or Passchendaele as it is better known. On the 26th September they fought at the Battle of Polygon Wood, then at Broodseinde and Poelcappelle in September, and on the 26th November fought in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. Between these awful battles, William lost his life. He was Killed in Action on the 10th October, 1917 aged just 19, and his body was lost in the Flanders mud. William is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Thomas Vicars Hunter, Captain, Royal Air Force. Thomas was born in London in April, 1897, the Son of Henry Charles Vicars Hunter, J.P., and the Hon. Mrs. Hunter, of Abermarlais Park, Llangadock. Thomas was educated at Ladycross and Eton, which he left early at the age of 17 for a Commission at Sandhurst, joining the 5th Battalion, the Rifle Brigade. Soon after being gazetted, he broke his leg in a motorcycle accident, which necessitated the amputation of his badly injured leg. This didn't stop him though, as he returned to service in October, 1916, but quickly discovered that he was hampered by the loss of his leg, and so he volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps in February 1917. He gained his wings in May, and served in France flying scouts. Thomas was gazetted Flight Commander In September then in November, 1917, he was posted to Italy with his Squadron. Sadly Thomas was Killed in Action here on the 5th December, 1917, aged just 20, and is buried at Carmignano Di Brenta Communal Cemetery.
Henry Jones, Private, 474271, Canadian Infantry. Henry was born on the 21st July, 1884, the Son of William and Gwenllian Jones, of Bank-y-Gwin, and had emigrated to Canada prior to the outbreak of war. He enlisted at Saskatoon on April 3rd, 1916 into the 72nd Battalion (British Columbia), Canadian Infantry, which was part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division. Henry would have arrived in France in time to take part in the Divisions first battle at Le Transloy, on the Somme, in October, 1916. They then fought at the Battle of the Ancre Heights, where the Canadians captured Regina Trench, before taking part in the Battle of the Ancre. Henry was wounded in action at the Battle of the Ancre, and Died of Wounds on the 16th November, 1916 aged 32. He is buried in Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension.
John Jones, Private, 46533, Welsh Regiment. John was the son of Hannah Jones and the late Thomas Jones, Pwllau, White Square, Taliaris. He was born around 1886. John was a Private in the 9th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, with the Service Number 46533. The 9th Welsh formed part of the 58th Brigade of the 19th (Western) Division, and they took an active part in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, before moving to Ypres. John was killed in action during the Battle of the Menin Road, on the 21st September, 1917. His body was lost on the muddy Flanders Battlefield, and so he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
Thomas Kynaston, Sergeant, 12969, South Wales Borderers. Thomas was born in Oswestry, but resided at Abermarlais Park, Llanwrda, and enlisted at Brecon into the 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which were attached to the 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. On the 6th July, 1915 the Division landed at Cape Helles, but they returned to Mudros just two weeks later. They then landed at ANZAC Cove on the 3rd August, 1915 and fought at the Battle of Sari Bair, Russell’s Top and Hill 60. Thomas was Killed in Action at ANZAC on the 22nd August, 1915, and is remembered on the Helles Memorial.
Rees Alban Lewis, Lance Sergeant 49772, Royal Fusiliers. Rees was the Son of Rees and Elizabeth Lewis, of Brownhill, Llansadwrnen. He enlisted at Cardiff into the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, attached to the 36th Brigade, 12th Division. The Division moved to France at the end of May, 1915 and concentrated near St. Omer. They relieved the 46th Division at Ploegsteert Wood on the 23rd June, remaining there until the 26th September when they moved to Loos. They fought at Loos until their relief on the 15th November, when they moved into reserve at Lillers. On the 10th December they moved to the line at Givenchy, and moved back to Loos in February, 1916. By the 18th June, 1916 the Division were on the Somme, and they attacked Ovillers on the 2nd July. They then fought at Pozieres and Le Transloy, then moved to Arras on the 22nd August. Here they fought at the Battle of the Scarpe on the 9th April, 1917, then at Arleux and at the Third Battle of the Scarpe. In November, 1917 they took part in the Battle of Cambrai, where Rees was Killed in Action, aged 23, on the 30th November, 1917. He is buried at Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Plouich.
Joshua Williams, Private, 633812, London Regiment. Listed on the Llansadwrn, Taliaris & Talley Memorials, Joshua enlisted on the 18th November, 1915 into the 15th Battalion, the London Regiment, with the Service Number 6132. He transferred into the 20th Battalion, his number changing to 633812, but was discharged on the 26th June, 1917 owing to ill health. Joshua was transferred to Beechwood House Hospital, Newport, where he sadly died on the 17th September, 1917 suffering from Cardiac Failure. He is not commemorated on the CWGC or on SDGW, so more research is needed to find where he is buried.
Benjamin Wright, Private, 11479, Welsh Regiment. Benjamin was born at London, but resided at Pwllyfan, Llanwrda prior to the war. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which landed in France on the 13th August, 1914 as part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. The Division fought at the Battle of Mons, and then during the epic retreat to the Marne, where they helped stop the German Advance before pushing them back to the Aisne. They were then rushed to Ypres, and took part in First Ypres, where the German advance across Flanders was stopped, although at great cost. After a hard first winter in Flanders, the Division fought at the Battle of Aubers in May, 1915 then moved to Loos, and took part in the Battle of Loos throughout September and October that year. In 1916 they fought on the Somme, where Benjamin was Killed in Action on the 23rd August, 1916. He is buried in Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz.
